Grinnell College’s Fitness Center, housed in the Charles Benson Bear `39 Recreation and Athletic Center, has undergone updates throughout the spring 2025 semester. These updates have included replacing old machines, rearranging the space and installing new doors.
Kara Lowe, assistant athletic director for facilities, equipment and events, who has been with the College since January 2025, told The S&B that the funding for the updates is coming from the Fitness Center’s capital equipment budget.
The Fitness Center serves Grinnell College students, faculty and staff, as well as community members with no specific affiliations with the College. The updates benefit everyone who uses the center, especially student-athletes who rely on the space for some of their strength and conditioning training. The new doors were installed because the previous doors did not lock properly.
“It is extremely exciting to see the moves that are being made to provide a positive and impactful experience for the student-athletes. With the hiring of two new strength and conditioning coaches we are taking huge strides in providing great opportunities for all teams and student-athletes,” Lowe wrote in an email to The S&B. “Their knowledge and expertise will also benefit everyone that use the Fitness Center as they know the type of equipment that will be most beneficial for all users.”
The changes have been the result of collaborations between the athletic department and the two recently hired strength and conditioning coaches. Steve Lewis, head strength and conditioning coach, began employment with the College in late November 2024. Maddy Griess, associate strength and conditioning coach, was hired in January 2025.
(Meilynn Smith)
“Our goal is to maximize the training experience of Grinnell student-athletes as well as improve the fitness center environment for all participants including students, faculty, staff and the wider Grinnell community,” said Lewis.
The changes have been noticed by Grinnell students who use the Fitness Center. Cole Beattie `25, who goes to the gym five to six days a week, said, “I think I’ve noticed significant changes just given that there’s been no change in the past three years. So, some change at all is quite significant … It’s maybe more spacious, given that they’ve taken out a few machines. I do appreciate the cleanliness that they’re trying to bring to the space.”
Sarah Wilts `25 also goes to the gym a few times a week. “The space seems to be a lot more well organized, and there’s some new equipment too. So, that’s been good.”
It is unclear what changes to expect from the fitness center in the coming weeks and months. “We are in the very early stages of processing what the future changes might be for this area,” wrote Lowe.
(Meilynn Smith)
